The death last April of Freddie Gray Jr., the 25-year-old Baltimore man fatally injured while in policy custody, sparked violent protests in that city's poor and minority communities. The civil unrest, which included looting and angry clashes with police, ultimately led to the governor declaring a state of emergency.

It was Dr. Leana Wen's third month on the job as commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. Based on her experience as an emergency department physician, she initially focused on keeping the city's hospitals safe and accessible for staff and patients.